Page 3 of A Player's Prayer
“You know he has.” Harley and Noemi giggled as they sipped their margaritas. “Ava said she called you last night, and you answered in the middle of a threesome and asked her if she wanted to join.” She looked me over and frowned slightly. “You’re a pig.”
“Correction…” I held up my pointer finger, wagging it at her. “I’m a whore; a slut, if you will. If you think about it, I’m doing God’s work. I bless these bitches when they need a nut, and I send them on their way until it’s time to help the next. I’m a selfless man, and I think I should be treated like the king I am.”
“Let me move before I get struck by lightning for sitting beside this nigga.” Noemi hurriedly slid her chair closer to Skip. “Have you always been this way? Who hurt you?”
As I sipped my Hennessy, I chuckled at the seriousness of her tone. There isn’t a hoe alive who can say she ever hurt Adrian Mills. I wasn’t some heartbroken-ass nigga that decided to fuck the pain away with every bitch he ran across. I, on the other hand, knew who and what I was. I’m fine, young, and paid. The deadliest combo to a bitch ready to throw her pussy for some Benjamins and some notoriety. What I look like turning down pussy when it’s always served to me at the drop of a dime? I’m single, and I’m safe when I indulge in my sexcapades. That’s all she wrote.
“It ain’t nothing like that, sis.” I stood from my seat when Mama came outside and told us to come in and eat. “I know how to treat a woman, but I’m going to handle a hoe accordingly every time.” Glancing over my shoulder, I locked eyes with Harley. “Tell your homegirl to stop running her mouth before I come to her spot and put something in it. My lil’ homie misses her throat anyway.”
Ava and I used to have some of the best times together. She and I had an understanding that it was going to be nothing but sex between us, and we were both cool with it. Before shemoved away for work, she came to me and said she wanted to fall back because she wanted more than to be a man’s fuck, and I respected it. I would never stand in the way of her wanting more from her partner. I knew that man wasn’t me, and so did she.
“My friend is in a happy relationship,” Harley came up behind me and mushed my head. “Leave her alone.”
“Ain’t nobody stunting your friend.” I stuck my foot out, tripping her up. “Tell her to stop telling my business, though. It’s not ladylike.”
“Aye! Don’t find yourself footless tryna trip my girl, Wild. You’re lucky she caught herself or you would’ve been catching these hands,” Uno’s voice carried across the space as we filed inside the kitchen.
“Man, ain’t nobody scared of you or grocery girl.” I joked, causing Skip to spit up his lemonade. Mama turned from the stove and gave me that look that let me know if I didn’t shut the hell up, she was going to go upside my head with a wooden spoon.
For the rest of the day, we all sat around and enjoyed each other’s company. From good food, good drinks, and great laughs, this is what I loved the most. Looking from my screaming nieces and nephews to my brother’s loving on their wives, to my parents whispering and giggling, I was content. I loved that everyone around me was happy and had found a love that suited them. However, no matter what they said or tried to drill into me, I didn’t want this. I didn’t want to be tied down.
Pulling my vibrating phone from my pocket and seeing an attachment of Talena and Erica tangled together was further proof that a life of bachelorhood was for me. Lena did all that tough talk to be right back on my dick with her bestie. When I left her house last night, it wasn’t even twenty minutes later before she was beating down Erica’s door, wanting to be taggedinto the ring. I respected any man who was cool with just one woman; I just knew it wasn’t me.
Closing my phone, I lay out on the floor and commenced to take a nap. I was going to need my energy for what I knew was going to be a long night with the Doublemint Twins. A family man wasn’t in the cards for me if I continued to have pussy thrown my way. I didn’t feel as if I was missing out on anything, either, because all of my hoes adore me. My life is lit just the way it is, and I have no plans to slow down anytime soon.
“Nurse Jenkins,we have a young lady that was in a fender bender in room two,” Tanessa greeted me as soon as I approached the nurse’s station. “She says she’s fine, but you know how that goes.”
Sighing heavily, I accepted the clipboard from the charge nurse and reviewed the patient’s chart. I’d just come back from lunch, not even two minutes ago, and more work was being dumped on me. It was my third month at Grove’s Memorial Hospital, and I was already over it. I love my job and what I do; I was never one to complain about the workload that came with being a nurse. This issue was the nurses being some of the sorriest ones I’ve ever worked with.
“When you’re done, I need you to check the vitals of the patients in rooms four and six.” I dragged my eyes over to Tanessa and watched as she groaned and grunted while sitting on her wide ass, throwing out demands. “When you’re done with that, I need you to?—”
“Wait…” I raised my hand, cutting her off. Looking around, I saw two other nurses sitting on the opposite side of the desk, scrolling TikTok while on the clock. “I’m not the only person working here today. Why can’t you or the other girls help out instead of expecting me to pick up everyone’s slack?”
Rearing her head back as if she were offended, she slowly stood from her seat before rounding the desk and walking back over to me. Although she towered over my five-three frame, I wasn’t intimidated in the least bit. Her nose flared as she hovered over me, but I stood my ground.
“Who the hell do you think you’re talking to?” She sassed as she placed her hands on her thick hips. “You think just because you’re the shiny new toy that holds everyone’s interest that you’re excluded from doing your part?”
“I didn’t say that.” I shook my head profusely. “All I’m saying is?—”
“Ladies, why are y’all just standing around chit-chatting?” Dr. Morrison walked over and interrupted our interaction. “Patients are filling the lobby, and we’re running out of rooms back here to place them in.” He frowned as he looked back and forth between us. “Is there an issue?”
“Yeah,newbie. Is there an issue?” Tanessa smirked, crossing her arms. “This is averydemanding job, and if you can’t handle it, maybe you should have accepted a smaller role at a private office.”
Chewing on my lower lip, I said nothing as I turned on my heels in search of my crash patient. Along the way, I stopped and checked on the patients who lined the walls, waiting tobe seen by the doctor. This hospital was horribly understaffed, but I knew that before I accepted the position. What I didn’t expect was to be working with a bunch of children who disguised themselves as professionals.
“Heyyy.” I stepped into the room, pulling the curtain back as the pretty young girl came into view. “I’m Dakota, and I’m going to make sure you’re good to go before leaving here.” I gave her a small smile as I placed the blood pressure cuff on her arm. “You want to tell me what happened?”
“Some dickhead wasn’t paying any attention at the red light and ran into the back of me.” She eyed me worriedly as I checked her blood pressure, which was elevated. “I’m fine, seriously. I only came in so I could have proof of the reason I missed out on taking an exam today. My professor is not one to play with.”
“I understand…” I nodded as I notated her vitals. “Your blood pressure is a little high, but it’s to be expected. Mine does the same when I have to go to the doctor too.” I gave her an assuring smile as I removed my flashlight from my pocket. “Let me check your pupils, followed by your lungs, and we can go from there.”
For the next ten minutes, we made small talk while I conducted the exam. I found out a long time ago that the more personable you become with the patients, the more comfortable they are. Once I was done, I gave her my final assessment.
“Well, Amelia… based on what I can see, you’re fine. I can get you an X-ray done on your lower back if you’d like.” I nodded toward her movements, watching her wince as she gripped it. “Is it bothering you badly?”
“To be honest, I don’t know if it was the accident or just everyday stress.” She gave me a small smile as she grabbed her purse. I’d already given her discharge papers because I didn’t believe in keeping people here all day. “I’m on my feet a lot, so it’s probably just a strain from work.”
“Do you need an excuse to be off from there as well as school?” I was already in the process of writing it. “You should take some time off and rest, love. You only have one body and don’t want to overdo it.”
